Tailors have been working longer hours to produce thousands of face masks a day as Victoria battles through a second wave of coronavirus.
Strict rules ordering residents of Melbourne and Mitchell Shire to cover their faces came in overnight on Thursday, with those who don’t wear a face mask when leaving the house risking a $200 fine.
In order to meet the demand for face masks, workers at Nobody Denim have set up a production line to sew them as huge orders flood in.
Owner John Condilis said 35 workers are producing up to 15,000 masks a day, six days a week for the people of Victoria.
Nobody Denim (pictured, a worker making masks on Thursday) has employed 35 people to help meet the demand for face masks in Victoria – producing 15,000 a day
In order to meet the demand for face masks, workers at Nobody Denim (pictured on Thursday) have set up a team to make the coverings
The state government requested the company help with the effort, and from Monday they had installed new machines to get the work done.
‘They asked us, ”how quickly can you ramp up?”, Mr Condilis told The Age.
‘We’ve just turned the factory upside down to get this going. Every day we’re going to be employing more people.’
Face masks are now mandatory for residents living in Melbourne and Mitchell Shire who leave their homes for the four reasons they’re allowed – including medical appointments and buying food.
Regional Victorians are also encouraged to wear masks as a precaution as the state continues to record high numbers of COVID-19 cases.
Up to 15,000 masks are produced each day, six times a week by workers at Nobody Denim (pictured)
The factory is producing up to 15,000 face masks six times a week to help meet the demand (pictured, the factory on Thursday)
Victorian Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton said there are some people who will be exempted from wearing face masks.
‘A number are legitimately not able to wear masks so please don’t vilify individuals or don’t make the assumption they are simply stubborn,’ he said.
‘There will be people with medical, behavioural, psychological reasons … certainly don’t make an assumption that they should be the subject of your ire.’
Supermarkets such as Woolworths, Coles, Aldi, FoodWorks and IGA have also implemented new rules to refuse entry to shoppers who are not wearing a face mask.
Victoria recorded 403 COVID-19 cases on Thursday, the third highest since the pandemic began, and a further five deaths.
The latest deaths include a man in his 50s, three aged care residents and a man in his 70s.
A Protective Services Officer (pictured) wearing a face mask talks to a member of public in Melbourne on Thursday
Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews speaks to the media during a press conference on Thursday (pictured)
Premier Daniel Andrews revealed on Wednesday that nine in 10 people were not self isolating from when they were feeling sick to being tested.
‘The key factor here that’s driving the numbers and driving our challenge is people that are sick but not getting tested,’ he said.
‘They have gone out shopping. They have gone to work. They have been at the height of their infectivity, and they have just continued on as usual.’
Mr Andrews also shared that 53 per cent of people were not isolating from when they have their test taken till receiving the result.
‘A bunch of those will be aged care workers. Let’s not judge them. Let’s try and work out what is driving it,’ he said.
The statistics come from positive COVID-19 tests conducted between July 7 and July 21 in Victoria.
People seen wearing face masks outside of Vicroads on the first day since masks became mandatory in Victoria (pictured on Friday)